HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS LACROSSE: HV uses balanced attack to beat PDS

PENNINGTON — The Hopewell Valley girls lacrosse team had a game plan going into Monday afternoon’s matchup against the Princeton Day Panthers: share the ball and attack the net.

The Bulldogs succeeded on both counts, beating the Panthers 13-10 on the new artificial turf at Ackerson Field. The balanced Hopewell Valley attack saw eight different players find the back of the net.

“It’s just really nice to see this group working as a unit,” said Bulldogs coach Pam Edwards. “In the past, things have maybe been a little more individualized. This group is really working to be one unit up and down the field.”

In the game’s very first few minutes, Princeton Day seemed in control, with Morgan Foster scoring the first two tallies of the afternoon.

The Bulldogs, however, were able to battle back, scoring four of the next five goals. All afternoon long, Hopewell Valley was able to take advantage of PDS’s physical style of play by drawing fouls and getting rewarded with penalty opportunities.

“We did a good job forcing them to foul,” said sophomore Paige Ackerman, who finished the game with two goals and two assists. “We knew they were an aggressive team, so we did a good job going to the goal. We knew we would get those fouls.”

After going into the half up 6-5, the Bulldogs were able to carve out a bit of breathing room after Ackerman scored the first goal of the second period and assisted Aidan Cage on the next.

That would prove to be nearly enough for Hopewell goaltender Erin Garrity, who had a fantastic game between the pipes. Every time it appeared PDS was on the verge of gaining momentum, Garrity would come up with a clutch stop.

“She definitely kept us in the game,” Edwards said of her goaltender. “She made save after save. She was pounded in that second half, and it was crucial she made the saves.”

Alana Kersey was the high-scorer for the Bulldogs with a hat trick, while Foster and Hannah Levy also both had three for the Panthers.

The win was made a bit sweeter for Hopewell by the fact that PDS edged the Bulldogs 13-12 in Princeton last season.

“Last year we lost by one goal, so this game was so exciting for us,” Ackerman said.

Hopewell will return to the field at 4 p.m. Wednesday when it hosts Steinert, while PDS will try to bounce back Friday with a 4:15 tilt at Pennington.